UAE-based cricket enthusiast Shyam Bhatia provides support to promote cricket in Ukraine

By K.R. Nayar 

Ukraine, which was once part of the Soviet Union, is the latest country to receive cricket equipment from Shyam Bhatia's Cricket for Care charity. Bhatia hopes that Ukraine too may go on to play international cricket like Japan whom he'd supported years ago. Kobus Oliver, who has coached many youngsters in Dubai, has taken charge as Chief Executive of the Ukraine Cricket Federation.

Shyam Bhatia, who promotes cricket through his Cricket for Care Foundation

UAE-based cricket enthusiast and businessman Shyam Bhatia takes pride in promoting cricket in countries where there is a keenness to play and the willingness to learn the game.  Through his Cricket for Care Foundation that he'd formed in 2007, he supplies cricket kits to various parts of the world. As soon as Bhatia learnt about the enthusiasm for cricket in Ukraine, which was once part of the Soviet Union, he decided to provide support.

Bhatia is now delighted to see cricket spreading quickly in that country.  Kobus Oliver, who was grooming youngsters in Dubai till a few years ago, is now the Chief Executive of the Ukraine Cricket Federation.  Efforts are on to ensure that Ukraine gets the International Cricket Council affiliate status.

Ukraine Cricket Federation officials receive Shyam Bhatia's Cricket For Care cricket kit 

Kobus carries with him 14 years of experience as Director of Cricket at the University of Cape Town. It was from this university that one of South Africa’s finest captains Graeme Smith emerged to become one of the legends of the game. Kobus was also the Chief Executive of Cricket Kenya, coach of the Dutch national youth teams, and Director of Cricket at King’s Al Barsha school in Dubai before taking up a job as an English teacher in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Coach Kobus Oliver guides youngsters in Ukraine with Cricket for Care kit

While in Kyiv, Pretoria born Kobus could not keep off cricket and hence decided to guide the children there into cricket. That was when he thought of Bhatia with whom he closely interacted while in Dubai and knew of his passion to promote cricket in remote areas. “Bhatia had come to Kenya in 2014 with his brother when I was the CEO of Cricket Kenya to donate 50 cricket kits. Later on he became a friend and a guide to me when I was in Dubai. Both of us share a deep passion for cricket. Through the Bhatia Cricket for Care charity organisation, he donates cricket equipment to countries all over the world. He did the same for Ukraine when he sent six full sets of cricket equipment and playing shirts. This enabled me to guide many youngsters, both boys, and girls, to take up the game,” said Kobus, who is a Level 3 Cricket South Africa certified coach. 

Speaking about the assistance to Ukraine, Bhatia said: “Through my Cricket for Care charity I have tried to reach out and help those countries that are striving to make their presence felt in cricket. Sometime back I had supported Japan by providing them cricket equipment, and I felt extremely happy when Japan qualified for the ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa in 2019. I hope Ukraine too qualifies to play international cricket in the near future.”

About his mission in Kyiv, Kobus said: “I want to see Ukrainian cricket teams across all age groups and genders consisting mainly of Ukrainians. Right now boys and girls between the age of 6 to 17 are being trained in cricket as an after-school activity and as part of their physical education lessons.” Plans are also on to set up an academy in Ukraine, and Bhatia has been invited to be present at the opening.

The Ukraine Cricket Federation (UCF) has been established to facilitate the governance, development, regulation, and promotion of cricket in Ukraine. Tournaments are now being held regularly. Some of the tournaments are the ASMC (Amit Sisodia Memorial Cup), KCL (Kyiv Cricket League), and Champions League. The Ukraine Premier League is set to begin from the 2nd week of July, and there are plans to stage a T10 tournament in August, followed by an Independence Cup and Petya Memorial tournament. 

Hardeep Singh is the president of UCF and the four vice presidents are Wayne Azchech, Thamarai Pandian, Yuri Zagruskiy, and Dr. R U P Menon. The UCF has also created its own score sheet that will be filled in by all teams to professionally record the performance of players and teams.